Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday that he has decided to carry out ” a special military operation ” to defend Donbass.

“I have made the decision to carry out a special military operation,” the president declared during a special message to Russian citizens, detailing that the objective of the operation is ” to protect people who have been subjected to abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years. “To this end, we will strive to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine. And also to bring to justice those who have committed numerous bloody crimes against the civilian population, including citizens of the Russian Federation,” he added.

Putin explained that the main motivation for the recognition of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics was the feelings and pain of the people who have lived in terrible conditions for eight years. ” You cannot look at everything that is happening there [in Donbass] without compassion, it was simply impossible to tolerate everything any longer, it was necessary to immediately stop this nightmare, the genocide against the millions of people who live there and who are only waiting for Russia, they only wait for you and me,” he said, adding:

“These aspirations, the feelings and the pain of the people were the main reasons for us to make the decision to recognize the People’s Republics of Donbass”

Moscow’s actions are “self-defense against the threats” posed to it

Putin stressed that the circumstances require Moscow to act “firmly and immediately” and noted that “the People’s Republics of Donbass have requested help from Russia.” He also stressed that ” Russia cannot exist with a constant threat emanating from Ukrainian territory” and that the country’s authorities “have been left no other choice” to protect the Russian people.

The head of state explained that the Russian military operation will be carried out in self-defense against those who had taken Ukraine “hostage”. “Today’s events are not related to the desire to undermine the interests of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, but to protect Russia itself from those who have taken Ukraine hostage and are trying to use it against our country and its people. “, said.

The president addressed the Ukrainian people and reaffirmed that Moscow’s actions are “self-defense against the threats” posed to it and “in the face of an even greater calamity than the current one.” “As difficult as it may be, I ask you to understand it and call for cooperation to turn this tragic page as soon as possible and move forward together, without allowing anyone to interfere in our affairs, in our relationships, but building them independently, so that the necessary conditions are created to overcome all the problems and, despite the existence of state borders, to strengthen ourselves from within as a single entity”, he appealed.

He added that Russia will not allow Ukraine to have nuclear weapons.

“Our policy is based on freedom”

The head of state pointed out that Russia does not intend to occupy Ukraine, but will seek its demilitarization. He said:

“Our plans do not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories, we are not going to impose anything on anyone by force”

At the same time, he recalled the right of nations to self-determination. “Neither at the time of the creation of the USSR, nor after the Second World War, no one ever asked the inhabitants of these territories or those that make up current Ukraine how they wanted to organize their lives. Our policy is based on freedom Putin declared, adding that it is about everyone’s freedom “to determine their own future and that of their children.” “And we consider it important that all peoples living on the territory of today’s Ukraine can exercise this right – the right to choose. All who want to,” he said

Boris Johnson Speaks on Russia’ Agression on Ukraine

Appeal to the Ukrainian military

Putin also addressed the Ukrainian military and assured that all those who refuse to comply with “criminal” orders from Kiev and lay down their weapons will be able to leave the war zone without hindrance. He stressed that they had sworn allegiance to their people “and not to the anti-popular junta, which is robbing Ukraine and intimidating that same person.”

“Do not obey their criminal orders! I ask you to lay down your arms immediately and go home. I want to make it clear: all Ukrainian Army personnel who comply with this demand will be able to leave the war zone without hindrance and return to their families.” , he detailed. The Russian president stressed: “All responsibility for possible bloodshed will fall on the conscience of the regime ruling the territory of Ukraine.”

Furthermore, Putin stressed that Russia remains one of the most powerful nuclear powers on the planet, so no potential aggressor should have any doubt that it will be completely defeated.

“As for the military sphere, modern Russia, even after the collapse of the USSR and the loss of much of its nuclear potential, is today one of the most powerful nuclear powers. And what is more: it has certain advantages in a series of state-of-the-art weapons,” he explained. She warned:

“In this regard, there should be no doubt that a direct attack on Russia would lead to defeat and dire consequences for the potential aggressor.”

Military machinery approaches our borders

Regarding NATO, Putin stressed that the Alliance is ruthlessly creating fundamental threats year after year by expanding in Eastern Europe and bringing its military infrastructure closer to the Russian borders.

“It is something that causes us special concern and concern. It is about those fundamental threats that, year after year, step by step, rudely and unceremoniously create the irresponsible politicians of the West against our country. I refer to the expansion of the bloc of the NATO to the east, to bring its military infrastructure closer to Russia’s borders,” he said.

He recalled that in recent decades Moscow has tried to negotiate with NATO to ensure equal and indivisible security, but was met with cynical deception or blackmail in response. “It is well known that for 30 years we have persistently and patiently tried to negotiate the principles of equal and indivisible security in Europe with the main NATO countries. We have constantly faced deceit and cynical lies or attempts to pressure and blackmail in response to our proposals,” he said.

Putin added that the Atlantic Alliance, meanwhile, is constantly expanding despite all the protests and concerns of the Russian authorities. He stated:

“The military machine is moving. And, I repeat, it is approaching our borders”

In the opinion of the Russian president, the Western bloc formed by the United States in his image and likeness is an empire of lies. “American politicians, political analysts and journalists themselves write and say that in recent years a true empire of lies has been created within the United States. It is difficult not to agree with this, it is so,” he said. . “Therefore, it can be rightly said that the entire so-called Western bloc, formed by the United States in its image and likeness, is in its entirety that same empire of lies,” he added.

Lugansk militias cross the Donetsk River where the line of contact passes

External Interference

At the same time, Putin addressed those “who might be tempted from outside to interfere in current events” and assured that Moscow would immediately respond in case of outside interference in the situation in Ukraine and a threat to the Russian people.

” Whoever tries to interfere with us and, even more so, create threats to our country, to our people, must know that Russia’s response will be immediate and will lead to consequences that it has never faced in its history. We are prepared for any development, it will be they have taken all the necessary decisions in this regard. I hope that they listen to me,” he warned.

Addressing Russian citizens, Putin noted that “the well-being, the very existence of entire countries and peoples, their success and viability always have their origin in the powerful root system of their culture and values, the experience and traditions of their ancestors, depend directly on the ability to quickly adapt to a life in constant change, on the cohesion of society, on their willingness to consolidate, to muster all the forces to move forward”.

“The forces are always necessary, but they can be of different quality. At the center of the policy of the empire of the ‘lie’ that I spoke of at the beginning of my speech is, above all, brute and direct force. In these cases , we say: you have power, you don’t need intelligence,” he stressed, adding:

“But you and I know that true power lies in justice and truth, that they are on our side”

A good lesson for us

According to Putin, the example of the Soviet Union demonstrated that the paralysis of power and will is the first step towards degradation and oblivion. He recalled that the USSR weakened in the late 1980s and then completely collapsed. “The whole course of events then is a good lesson for us today,” he said. “It has convincingly shown that the paralysis of power and will is the first step towards complete degradation and oblivion. And that’s it, the balance of power in the world has been broken,” he stressed.

The Russian leader pointed out that the weakening and collapse of the Soviet Union made previous treaties with the West invalid. “This has led to previous treaties and agreements no longer being in force. Persuasions and petitions do not help. Everything that does not suit the hegemony, the de facto powers, is declared archaic, outdated, unnecessary,” he added. .

“The fate of Russia is in the trustworthy hands of our multinational people”

Finally, the president stressed that he is confident that the Russian military will carry out their duty with professionalism and courage. “Dear compatriots, I am convinced that the soldiers and officers of the Russian Armed Forces, who are loyal to their country, will carry out their duty professionally and courageously. I have no doubt that all levels of power, the specialists in charge of the stability of our economy, the financial system, the social sphere, the heads of our companies and the entire Russian business community will act coherently and effectively,” he said.

Putin clarified that the fate of Russia is in the reliable hands of its people, which means that the goals will be achieved and the security of the country will be guaranteed. “Ultimately, as has always happened in history, the fate of Russia lies in the reliable hands of our multinational people, which means that the decisions taken will be implemented, the goals set will be achieved and the security of our Homeland will be guaranteed. reliably. I believe in your support, in the invincible strength that our love for the Motherland gives us , “he declared addressing the citizens of Russia.

The Kremlin defines the terms of the Russian military operation in Ukraine

Western reaction

For his part, US President Joe Biden described Russia’s special military operation as an “unprovoked and unjustified attack against Ukraine.”

“President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring catastrophic loss of life and human suffering, ” Biden said in a statement. “Only Russia is responsible for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive manner. The world will hold Russia accountable.”

The White House occupant promised to address his nation on Thursday to announce ” additional consequences ” that the United States and its allies plan to impose on Russia for “this unnecessary act of aggression against Ukraine and world peace and security.”

In turn, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg declared that the military operation in Donbass is “a serious violation of international law.” In an official statement released Thursday, Stoltenberg said he condemns “Russia’s reckless and unprovoked attack on Ukraine.” He also indicated that it is “a serious threat to Euro-Atlantic security. ”

The NATO chief called on Russia to “immediately” cease its military action. Finally, he assured that NATO allies will meet to address the “consequences of Russia’s aggressive actions.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday his decision to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, after which friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance agreements were signed between Russia and both republics.
Putin recalled that currently “practically not a single day passes without shelling in the localities of Donbass “. “The killing of civilians, the siege, the harassment of people, including children, women, the elderly, do not stop,” he lamented, while adding that “the so-called civilized world, of which Western colleagues call themselves the only representatives, prefers not to notice the account of this, as if all this horror, genocide, to which almost 4 million people are subjected, did not exist”
Meanwhile, Russia’s permanent representative to the UN, Vasili Nebenzia, said Wednesday in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly that the decision to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics is “a direct consequence of years of sabotage by Kiev of its direct obligations under a package of measures approved by Security Council resolution 2202″. ” The entire international community has been deceived by Kiev for these eight years, by assuring its commitment to the Minsk agreements”, he stated, stressing that Ukraine has actually engaged in “sabotage” the work of the contact group
UN Secretary General to Putin: “In the name of humanity, return your troops to Russia”